Kuala Lumpur cancels Merdeka eve celebration out of respect for sinkhole victim; Malaysia police chief says no need to declare area unsafe

SINGAPORE: Kuala Lumpur City Hall has cancelled its Merdeka Eve celebrations on Friday (Aug 30) out of respect for the woman who fell into a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India nearly a week ago and is yet to be found.

The celebration, on the eve of Malaysia’s Independence Day, was to be held at Merdeka Square, several hundred metres from the sinkhole site.

Announcing the cancellation on Wednesday night (Aug 28) on social media, Kuala Lumpur City Hall called for unity and urged Malaysians to show patriotism to mark the day.

“Let’s be together – let’s live the meaning of independence with the spirit of patriotism,” it posted on Facebook.

The sinkhole victim, identified as Ms Vijayaletchumy, is a tourist from India who was reportedly on a two-month holiday in Malaysia with her family and was due to return home soon. She fell into the 8m-deep sinkhole in front of Malayan Mansion on Jalan Masjid India while walking to a nearby temple last Friday morning.